Sutcliffe 'day out' defended

The Home Office has defended the decision to allow Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper, out of Broadmoor on a day trip.

Sutcliffe, who was jailed for life in 1981 for killing 13 women, made a supervised visit to Arnside, Cumbria, to see the spot where his father's ashes were scattered.

It follows a decision last year not to allow the Ripper, who was incarcerated in Broadmoor after being diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, to attend his father's funeral.

Fabian Hamilton, MP for Leeds, criticised the decision, fearing it would cause more grief, anger and upset to the families of his victims.

But the Home Office insisted the visit was "the right and proper thing to do''.

A spokesman said: "The decision on this individual was made by the previous Home Secretary David Blunkett who felt it was the right and proper thing to do.

"This decision was subsequently reaffirmed by Charles Clarke.

"A full and comprehensive risk assessment was made by the authorities and the individual was closely supervised at all times. At no point was there any danger to members of the public.''

But Julie Kirkbride, a Tory MP who was at school with one of the Ripper's victims, was scathing about Sutcliffe's visit.

The MP for Bromsgrove said: "I'm outraged by Charles Clarke's decision, which was grossly insensitive to the many families in West Yorkshire who are still grieving over the brutal deaths of their loved ones at the hands of this animal.

"I was a schoolgirl living in West Yorkshire when the Ripper was carrying out his murders. He killed a girl who was in my class at school, very close to my house.

"I don't think it's possible that the Home Secretary understands the fear in which women in West Yorkshire lived for many years, that they would be the Ripper's next victim.

"As far as I'm concerned, being incarcerated for the rest of his life is far too good for him.''